Sheetsxsheet i



Sept. 9, 1952 B. BABIN CABLE OPERATED SIDE-LINE DITCHING MACHINE OF THE BOOM TYPE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 IN V EN TOR. Ll/KE 5. BAH/N BY 21/ JHMQMJ 4 TTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1952 B. BABIN CABLE OPERATED SIDE-LINE DITCHING MACHINE OF THE BOOM TYPE 2 SHEETSSHEE'I 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 INVENTOR. lZ/XE 5. DAB/N Patented Sept. 9, 1 952 CABLE? OPERATED SIDE LINE DITCHING 1 MACHINE'OEITHE BOONL TYPE- 1 LukeB.Rabin; Whitc1Gastle,, -La;. Application Novemberfiii, 1946, SeriaINo. 712,827

The present invention relates --toimprovemen-ts in combination ditch digging and-cane-loadingmachines and has for an object to provide an improved machine convertible for use" either for" digging ditches or'for loadingcane;

Another object of the invention" is to provide a ditcher and loader that may be converted fromone to the other by the-mere interchangingof'the ditching. bucket. and the :caneloader grab; This is 'made possible because the'machineisdesigned-- to perform both operationsiin-the samem'anner. A further object of the inventiomis t provide a ditching 1 and cane loading machine employing a swinging: boom' with operating connections" thereto which automatically: function to swmg" the boom inthe' one, and sequentiallyin theop yolainn (o1; ai+11et posite direction, by the. simpleactyof tensioning thelcablesof. the operatingmechanism and then slackening one of the? cables to incidentally uti;

lize'. the weight of the implement to' restore the boom.

W th f r in and; other objects in .view'; I

the invention" will be more fullydescribed' hereiinafter and, more" particularly pointediout in-the appendedclaim. v V p p In the drawings, in which; like-parts are de r noted by the same reference chara'ctersgthroughroutthe" several views;

Figure 1 is aside. elevationiof'oneiform:of the.

device constructed in. accordance" with. the present: invention and being shown .as'semployed for ditch digging operations;

Figure 2 isia fragmentary top plan view'rot the present invention showing the ditchin'gbucket':

engaged. in the loading operation. v

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken" on. the line 33 in Figure 2 and showinga form "ofwindlass-clutch mechanism on anienlarged scale;

Figure'e' is a; fragmentary side; elevation of the device,v constructed according tothe present: in-.

vention as employed in the cane loading-operation, illustrated with the grabin one phaseof' its lifting position.

Figure 5isa side elevation ofone-form;oi"ditch-1 ing'bucket as used in connection with the present" invention. and taken on' an. enlarged scale.

Figure. 6. is an end elevation off'Figure' 5' taken" ditchin Figure 8 a side elevation of thecane grabi' inthe raised and, dumping position.

adjusting device.

a conventional transmission and difi'erenti'al I .:of* and' OfE- thecenter line of sam'e'. Theboom 5111 Referring more particularly to'- the "drawingsga; I w-designates a self-'propelled 'mobilecrane witlh rear wheels-l'lon axes a-tright -angles-to thevehicle and driven from a=-power unit" I2 and having front 'wheels- M on conventi'o'na spindles for-steering. J

A boom i5 is mounted for universalswin movement on the vehicl'e irameat therear-"th'e may be carried by a horizontally rotatingf turn. table: 56' to which the-boom l5 is"- connecte d loyx pivots 5 1 having substantially-'- horizontal "axes-: A main mast I B is erected on the turntable 56co iincident wi-ththe vertical axis 'of the' turntabl'ez Diagonal braces 11 and I 8 extend from-the vest hicle body and converge angularly tothe". uppers endportion ofthe mast l6; the mast having'taa rotary'bearin-g in the upper end of such bracesi The: boom l5" has: horizontal swinging: movemerit-about the vertical axis -of the:- turntableg': and} such boom l 5 i'1as vertically adjustable inove ment about the pivots: 51d In res'pect of itsavei ticallyadj usting motion it may: be: rem-mew ins:

.: any desired position by: the adjustment ofragcables;

ZS- and a chain 35' by .lo'cleingthe chaim 35 'in a; chain-retaining plate 31, which i's afii'xed t'orthezv main mastlffi at-the top-thereof: r

An outriggerl q ismounted to the "right: side of the=vehic1e -l fi and carries:- an adjustableslieavez 20 through which passes a cable 21. The sheave: 2a isadjusted horizontally toward and: from the vehicle in order to reach over the ditch in the ditch digging operation so-that the bucketlll may .bepulled by the cable-21 alongthe center line of the ditch. The inner end of the=cablepasses over i a sheave 22 on thevehicleby which such cable is" directed to a" WlhdlfiSS" drum" 242 Theot'her' endof the cable for-ms 'partof' a closed lbop in volving the upper and lower cable runs fl and 21 and a; chain or other flexible connectiom RB-v The cable runs 2-W- and ZT- arerovethrough= a sheave 2-1 swung-from theouter end of a com' w panion cable 2-81 The'-=-near ends of the lower gether to" a forward: part of -a bar- 31? pivoted 1:0 a beam-50*attached to-t-he'bu'cket lli The-'-far*- end of the chain 46 is affixect to: the cable-127 193 a connecting'piece or'clampiak 1 i A indlass ;d'rum--25" carries andhas afiixed t it one end of the cable 2 8; The run ofthecabl 28*isrdefinedxby assing over-sheave E f-which is.

horizontallyimounted tofthe vehicular frameflfl overia sheavei39'; which isihorizontally?#mounte to the left rear ofthe vehicular-frame='=-i0 ditching bucket 40 by means of engaging eyes 45 on the bucket 40. A beam 50 of the nature of a plow beam is connected to the rear end portion of the bucket 40 and projects to a substantial extent forward of the bucket and forwardly of the digging point or edge 52. One or more bars 33 are pivoted as at B3 to the beam 50 at a considerable distance back from its forward end where the beam carries an upstanding perforated or; other adjusting strap or straps 64 to which the bar- 38: maybe pinned in any adjustment about. the fulcrumv 63. Figure-6 that the side walls of the bucket 40 flare or diverge upwardly. As shown in Figure 1 the proximate ends of the lower loop runs 21 and 46 are connected to the outer free end of the bar38.

It will be noted from 7 -Thejwindlass drums 24 and 25 are carried freelylon' apower shaft 41 which carries spline 48,-=over which laterally floats clutching gears 49 and 49 having teeth and 3|]. which engage sockets 3| and 3i respectively, on the sides of the pwindless drums 25 and 24. Yokes 29 and 29 arelarrangedto slide gears 49 and 49 into mesh with drums 25 and 24 respectively. Braking drums 32 and 33 are attached to and carried by Windlass drums 24 and 25 respectively. Brake bands 34 passover the brake drums 32 and 33 to maintain them in the stopped or tension position when so desired. As shown in Figure 9 brakeband pressure may be applied by any suitable. device. For instance, one end of the brake band is anchored at 59 while the other end is coupled to a lever 60 pivoted at 6| to a bracket 61? and secured in an adjusted position by a ratchet latch 62. The bracket Bl is secured to the frame of the vehicle I!) in ,anysuitable manner and at any'desired location so that the lever 60 will be accessible to the operator of the device... V

In operation the invention functions as follows:

Thesheave 20 is placed over the center line of the ditch to be excavated and the vehicle it is in position to travel parallel to the ditch. The digging cycle commences with the ditching bucket 40 resting upon the earth to be excavated. The

clutch yoke 29?- moves clutching gear 49 toward the Windlass drum 24 such thatteeth 30 on the clutching gear 49 engage the sockets 3 on the sides of the Windlass drum 24 and impart rotation thereto. Meanwhile, the Windlass drum 25 remains idle on the power shaft 41. The cable 21 passing through the sheave 20 draws the chain 46 taut thus dragging the ditching bucket 40 along the bottom of the proposed ditch.

When the ditching bucket 40 is full, the clutching gear 49*- is disengaged from the Windlass drum 24 and the brake is applied to the brake drum 32 to maintain tension on the cable .21.

The clutch yoke 29 is then moved laterally along thespline 4a to engage the teeth so of the clutching gear 49 into the sockets 3| in the side of the Windlass drum 25 and thus impart rota-v tion thereto; this causes the winding in of the cable 28 thus raising the point of the rigid draw bar 50 by putting tension on the chain 46 and cable 21 and 21*. This causes the point 52 of the ditching bucket 40 to raise first as best seen in Figure 1. The cable 28 is continued to be wound upon the Windlass drum 25 and thus causes the entire bucket to raise. After the ditching bucket'40 has-been lifted clear'of the ditch, the cable continues to be wound upon the Windlass drum 25 and thus causes tension in the hook-up between the sheaves 20 and 42, thus causing the boom l5 to swing in the direction of the outrigger l9. During the swinging movement of the boom '15 towards the outrigger, the bucket 40 acts as a part of the connection between the cables 21 and 28. When the boom [5 has swung sufliciently to place the ditching bucket 40 over a spoil bank, the brake on the Windlass drum 24 is then released and the clutch disengaged from the indlass drum 25 and thebrake applied to the brakedrum 33 thus releasing tension on the cables 21, 21 21 and chain '46 allowing the.v nose or point 52 of the ditching bucket 40 to drop. The dirt is thus dumped from the ditching bucket 40 to the spoil bank as best seen in Figure '7'. v

The end portion of the cable 23 which is attached to the drum 25 is fixed against movement since the brake is set on the drum 25 and the digboom l5 both towards and away from the outrig-T ger 19 the cable 28 and the bucket 40 serve as part of the means for such movement: the cable 21 coacting with the cable 28 and thebucket to move the boom towards the outrigger and the.

bucket 40 coacting with the cable 28 in lieu of the cable 2'! to move the boom away from theoutrigger. When the ditching bucket 40 is di-,

rectly over'the ditch due to the swinging of the boom l5, the brake on the Windlass drum 25 is released .thus dropping the ditching bucket 40 into the ditch. The cycle is then recommenced.

The aforesaid deviceasdes'cribedin connection with ditch digging may also be very readily adapted to be used asa cane loading device mere-' ly by the substitution of a cane grabfwh'ich will be hereinafter described more fully. This is possible because the machine is designed to perform both operations in the same manner.

The cane grab 53 is shaped like a horizontal U with an automatic trigger 54 pivoted at 65 on the front or working end of the grab 53 such that when tension is brought upon the cables 27 and 21* the trigger 54 will be actuated to the closed position and retain the cane loaded therein. v

When the grab 53 is resting upon the ground prior to loading, the trigger 54 is held in the open position by means of a coil spring 55 and the grab 54 sweeps the heap row and is loaded with cane. The-grab 53 is drawn along the heap row by the cable 27. When the grab is fully loaded with cane and it is desired to place the cane in a cane receiving cart or vehicle (not shown), the grab is raised in a manner similar to tain the cane therein. The grab 53 is swung It will i be noted that during the movements of the l over the cane receiving cart similar to the manner in which the ditching bucket 40 is swung over the spoil pile and is then dumped by the slackening of the cable 21 thus causing the trigger 54 to assume the open position because of the action of the coil spring 55 and permitting the cane to fall from the grab 53. This dumping position may best be viewed in Figure 8.

The use of this invention in the field of digging and cane loading provides:

A small, light mobile machine, primarily designed for the small farmers, the size of whose operations would not economically permit the use of standard equipment.

A bucket and cane grab which is light enough use of best travelling lane for the machine.

A plow beam with adjustable straps on front end that regulates the angle of draw cable pull for the digging bucket so that the desired digging depth can be attained.

Since the boom is swung from its loading to unloading positions by an angle pull of the hoist line and the draw line the usual boom swinging mechanisms are eliminated and simplifies the operation by doing away with the operating levers and uses no extra power from the power unit.

It will be understood that the loop referred to in the claim is comprised of the upper run 2'! and the lower run composed of the two legs 21 and 46. For convenience, in that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the upper run 2! and the lower run leg 21 are shown as continuations of the hauling cable 21 but whether or not these members 2! and 27* are integral with the hauling cable 21 is of no moment as the hauling cable 21 may be regarded as attached at its outer end to the forward end 58 of the loop. The critical feature resides in the fact that it is a loop and that the lower run of the loop at its intermediate portion is connected to the beam which projects forwardly from the material container 40 or 53 as the case may be.

While I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known'to me at the present time, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes and modifications in the herein described embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claim.

What I claim is:

In a machine for the purposes described, a vehicle, an outrigger projecting laterally from said vehicle, a boom mounted on said vehicle for lateral swinging movement, a hauling cable, a windlass on the vehicle on which one end of the cable is wound, an outrigger pulley mounted upon the outrigger over which the hauling cable is passed and directed away from the outrigger in a line substantially parallel with the line of movement of the vehicle and spaced laterally therefrom, a loop connected at one of its ends to the other end of said hauling cable at the end of such parallel line, a loop pulley supporting the opposite end of the loop through which the opposite end of the loop is rove, a lifting cable having an outer end connected to and carrying said loop pulley, a boom pulley on the outer end portion of said boom over which said lifting cable is passed, a second Windlass on the vehicle on which the inner end portion of said lifting cable is wound, a material container, a container support supported and carried from the outer end portion of said lifting cable and having a lower end pivotally connected to the containerv rearwardly of center of gravity to bias the container to a dumping position, a beam extending forwardly of the container and of said support and coupled to the lower run of said loop whereby when the hauling cable is slack the eccentric weight of the container and its load will pull down upon the lower slackened loop causing dumping and when the hauling cable is put under pulling tension the lower run of the loop will be pulled into substantially straight line position thus rotating the container about its support to an erect position, a bar pivoted to the beam to couple the beam to the lower run of said loop, said bar having a forward end which is at a considerable distance forward of the pivot point, a rigid adjusting strap extending upward- 1y from the forward end portion of said beam and means afiixing said bar to the strap in various angular positions of said bar.

LUKE B. BABIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 881,330 Newman Mar. 10, 1908 1,579,945 Kelly Apr. 6, 1926 1,885,937 McWilliams Nov. 1, 1932 2,133,406 Shelton et a1 Oct. 18, 1938 2,268,568 Cook Jan. 6, 1942 2,322,151 Matus, Jr. a June 15, 1943 2,338,831 Whitcomb et a1. Jan. 11, 1944 2,375,205 Barras May 8, 1945 2,525,528 Deal Oct. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 502,507 Great Britain Mar. 20, 1939 

